The recent gang violence on the Cape Flats, the violent protest marches
in the City of Cape Town and the ‘mine war’ at Marikana cannot be seen
as separate or as isolated incidents. It must be seen as symptoms of a
much greater underlying issue. I see it as a nation at war with itself.
In a war there are always two or more parties involved, one group always
want to take control and in most cases it is a struggle over scarce
resources.
The common denominator of all these events is the
quality of life of ‘black’ people in South Africa and it relates to a
struggle over scarce resources. The violence that is currently
manifesting on the Cape Flats would have never happen if not for
apartheid. It was the apartheid legislation that relocated black people
on the Cape
Flats, it was apartheid that
denied the majority equal education and work opportunities. So people
living in Hanover Park do not have the same standard of living as their
white counterparts.
The same with Khayelitsha, it was created
as a dormitory township for black to sleep in and not for real
development to take place. A large part of black people in Khayelitsha
do not have basic services. For example, Monwabisi Park does not even
have electricity. Furthermore, mine workers at Lonin Platinum mine earn a
salary of about R4000.00 a month (apparently it is more but was nt
confirmed). These mine workers are from the rural areas across SA and
the money they earning is not enough to sustain them and their families.
The second denominator is that there are always two parties
involved in these conflicts. For example, on the Cape Flats rival gangs
are trying to exterminate each other. In Khayelitsha the DA claim to
have evidence that the protest marches are organise by the ANCYL and in
Marikana it is the mine workers against Lonin management and NUM.
The third denominator is a lost to human live. In all of these three
cases you will find that human have lost their lives. In Khayelitsha and
on the Cape Flats it was mostly innocent bystanders. What worries me is
that violence has become the acceptable way of dealing disputes. Most
political commentators and ‘so called analysts’ have been so blinded by
the ANC leadership race that they are not able to connect these dots.
So here is my appeal: let us find ways to stop this trend (violence) before it is too late.
The same with Khayelitsha, it was created as a dormitory township for black to sleep in and not for real development to take place. A large part of black people in Khayelitsha do not have basic services. For example, Monwabisi Park does not even have electricity. Furthermore, mine workers at Lonin Platinum mine earn a salary of about R4000.00 a month (apparently it is more but was nt confirmed). These mine workers are from the rural areas across SA and the money they earning is not enough to sustain them and their families.
The second denominator is that there are always two parties involved in these conflicts. For example, on the Cape Flats rival gangs are trying to exterminate each other. In Khayelitsha the DA claim to have evidence that the protest marches are organise by the ANCYL and in Marikana it is the mine workers against Lonin management and NUM.
The third denominator is a lost to human live. In all of these three cases you will find that human have lost their lives. In Khayelitsha and on the Cape Flats it was mostly innocent bystanders. What worries me is that violence has become the acceptable way of dealing disputes. Most political commentators and ‘so called analysts’ have been so blinded by the ANC leadership race that they are not able to connect these dots.
So here is my appeal: let us find ways to stop this trend (violence) before it is too late.
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